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Security Council LIVE: Women and girls face greater dangers in war
Key facts:
War is growing deadlier for women and girls, according to the UN Secretary-General’s annual report
Women and girls accounted for one in four of the more than 37,000 civilians killed in armed conflict last year – double the figure in 2021
At least 25 women and girls are killed every day in conflict settings
Some 750 million women and girls now live within 50 kilometres of an active conflict, 40 million more than in 2024 and more than at any time since 1990
As civilian deaths mount, sexual violence is surging
Women continue to be largely shut out of peace talks
Context: Women, peace and security is ‘not a slogan’
It is an operational imperative, said Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
“When women participate, lead and shape decisions, peacekeeping is more effective and peace is more sustainable,” he said.
Women must sit at peace tables, meaningfully shape outcomes, Nigeria says
To bridge the gap between commitment and implementation, Nigeria’s delegate said women's meaningful participation in mediation must become the norm rather than the exception.
“Women must have a seat at the negotiating table and a meaningful voice in shaping the outcomes,” he said, adding that predictable and sustainable financing must reach women-led organizations working in conflict-affected communities.
National justice systems, with appropriate international support, must hold perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence accountable.
“Survivors, including women and girls formerly held captive by terrorist groups, must have access to medical care, psychosocial assistance and economic opportunities to rebuild their lives,” he said.
(c) 2026, UN News
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